Roberto Bautista Agut wins Auckland tennis title as Jack Sock retires in final

Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut has won the Auckland tennis title after American Jack Sock retired early in the second set through illness.

Sock had been clearly labouring on centre court before the match ended with eighth seed Bautista Agut leading 6-1, 1-0 on Saturday.

Sock had won his quarter-final and semi-final - against fourth-seeded South African Kevin Anderson and top seed and four-time champion David Ferrer of Spain - over the previous two days despite battling a virus.

But from the start of the final in warm, sunny conditions, the world number 26 was in obvious discomfort.

He moved slowly between points, sometimes doubling over, and did not chase down balls he would otherwise have done.

He got a big ovation from the sympathetic crowd when he held serve to trail 5-1.

After the first set, a trainer and doctor came out to talk to the 23-year-old, who decided to continue, but lasted just one more drop of serve.

The result gave Bautista Agut, 27, the third ATP title of his career.

The world number 25 had beaten the last two Auckland champions, Czech Jiri Vesely and third seeded American John Isner, earlier in the week.

He then downed Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the second seed, in the semi-finals.